The Largest Stadiums In Oceania

In Oceania, there is a large following of international sports such as cricket, rugby, and soccer. These sporting events attract thousands of spectators which has led to the construction of large stadiums all over the region. Oceania has some of the largest stadiums in the world, the majority of which are located in Australia.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Australia)

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a stadium located in the city of Melbourne, Australia which is owned by the Government of Victoria. With a seating capacity of 100,024, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest stadium in both Oceania and the Southern Hemisphere. The stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world. The largest crowd ever hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground numbered about 130,000 during a Billy Graham Crusade, organized in the stadium on March 15, 1959. The stadium was opened in 1853 and has been subjected to many expansions and redevelopment to increase its capacity. Some of these expansions include the 1992 Southern Stand development which cost about $150 million and the 2006 Northern Stand development which cost about $460 million. The Melbourne Cricket Ground has hosted several events including the 1992 Cricket World Cup final as well as the 1956 Summer Olympics.

ANZ Stadium (Australia)

The ANZ Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Sydney, Australia and is also known as the Stadium Australia. The stadium derives its name from the ANZ Bank which was granted naming rights on January 2008 in a $23-million deal. The stadium has a seating capacity of 84,000 making it the second largest stadium both in Australia and in Oceania. ANZ Stadium got its highest attendance during the closing of the 2000 Sydney Olympics with an audience of 114,714 people. The ANZ stadium was constructed between 1996 and 1999 at the cost of about $512 million. It was opened on March 6, 1999. The 2000 Sydney Olympics, which were held in the stadium, featured the women’s 400 meter final where the stadium recorded an attendance of 112,524, the largest crowd to ever attend an athletic event.

Etihad Stadium (Australia)

The Etihad Stadium is located in Docklands in Melbourne, Australia. The stadium was originally known as the Colonial Stadium of the Docklands Stadium and got its current name after Etihad Airways was awarded the naming rights to the stadium. Etihad Airways pays about $5 million per year to have its name on the stadium. The Etihad Stadium is the third largest stadium in Australia and Oceania with a seating capacity of 56,347 people. The Etihad Stadium houses the headquarters of the Australian Football League who owns the stadium. Construction of the stadium commenced on October 1997 and completed on March 9th, 2000 at the cost of $341 million.

Adelaide Oval (Australia)

The Adelaide Oval is a stadium located in the Australian city of Adelaide. The stadium is one of the largest in the country with a seating capacity of 53,583, making it the fourth largest stadium in Oceania. Adelaide Oval is owned by the South Australian Government and houses the headquarters of the South Australian Cricket Association and the South Australian National Football League. The stadium was opened in 1871 but has undergone numerous expansions to increase its capacity.

Naming Rights

The stadiums in Oceania have attracted local and foreign investors who wish to be granted naming rights to the stadiums. One example of this is Docklands Stadium which granted the United Arab Emirates’ airline company and Etihad Airways its naming rights in a multi-million-dollar deal.